Juliet Applebaum left her career as a public defender to stay home with her children, but she didn’t lose her instinct for uncovering the truth. Her investigations happen in the margins of domestic life—between diaper changes, during playground time, and while managing the physical challenges of pregnancy. This creates a unique investigative perspective where crime-solving fits around family needs rather than the other way around.
The series explores crimes and issues that resonate with Juliet’s life stage. Cases often involve families, women, and social issues that a working detective might overlook or approach differently. Her status as a mother gives her access to networks and conversations unavailable to police, while her legal training helps her recognize what matters. The mysteries work because Juliet brings both professional knowledge and personal insight to investigations that matter to her community.
Through seven books, the series balances mystery plots with honest portrayals of parenthood. Waldman doesn’t romanticize either motherhood or detective work—both are shown as complicated, sometimes frustrating, and often rewarding. Juliet’s investigations provide an outlet for her intellect while her family life grounds the stories in relatable domestic reality. The Los Angeles setting adds layers of social observation and cultural specificity to each case.
Reading Order
See the complete A Mommy-Track Mystery reading order for all books in the series.